Deer in Scotland are res nullus – they are not owned by anyone. Despite the lack of ownership deer are managed by various different organisations and individuals to meet a variety of different aims. Deer management is a component part of a larger system – the management of Scotland’s countryside, land and natural assets. For deer to be managed effectively they have to be seen as part of this wider management system. They are a natural asset, an integral part of the countryside, and their presence can influence the environment around them – the assorted plants, trees and other wildlife. The ways in which individuals and organisations manage Scotland’s deer depends on the aims the individuals and organisations have and the interests they represent
[Deer Management : animation] For landowners deer may represent a hunting asset - people pay an owner to visit his/her land to hunt and shoot deer. In this instance one of the main aims of the deer management system is to ensure there are enough deer to meet sporting (hunting) requirements. The deer population must also be suitably healthy so that visitors know they are hunting an animal of good quality. Crofters and farmers usually apply a different form of deer management which is dictated by the need to protect agricultural land used to grow crops or to raise cattle. In these circumstances deer may not be viewed as an asset but as a potential problem. The crofter or farmer wants to protect his/her land and assets. If deer are entering that land and grazing or trampling crops then the crofter or farmer may shoot the deer to reduce the risk of damage. Deer are also managed to take into account other interests including forestry and conservation. Government agencies manage deer to meet different needs and to take into account the various interests of those involved in land management. The Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) has a statutory responsibility to further the conservation, control and sustainable management of all species of wild deer in Scotland and to keep under review all matters relating to deer, including welfare. DCS therefore has to ensure deer are being managed effectively by the various individuals and organisations in a way which take into account the various aims and interests which exist. The owners of land in Scotland have a duty of care for the natural resources that they own. They must also work with neighbours to take account of other objectives. DCS has to ensure the different management systems meet these requirements and that in doing so they do not unnecessarily compromise the welfare of deer. The public interest must also be taken into account. The public interest includes incidents where deer stray onto public roads, increasing the risk of deer-related road accidents. DCS has a responsibility to ensure steps are taken, usually by landowners, to prevent accidents from happening. DCS also has a statutory responsibility to ensure deer do not have an adverse impact on designated sites – Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). These areas exist throughout Scotland through designations set down in EU law top protect rare tree and plant species and endangered wildlife such as the Capercaillie.
